The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-11-12

one lOOKeu up almost uercely, rs IL ro-
preaching her husband for not denying
this vile story. He met her look rather
unsteadily, and answered in a low agitat-
ed voice:
II know all about it, Marie, and some
day l promise to tell you all know; but
1 beg you not to question me now"
The wife threw her head back with
startled suddenness, as if some hidden
dagger had struck her, and gazed at the
weak, handsome face before her. Her
brief, searching gaze brought the color
to Mr.. Penlittle's face, while strangely
enough, hers grew pale. Her arms drop
ped presently, and she turned slowly
away.
For year Mowbray's name was not
mentioned between them. Mr. Penlittle
had news of him which he would have
been glad to tell his wife, but he could
never bring himself to face that startled,
searching gaze again. Marie scanned
the papers secretly for news OF the de-
faulter, but hastily turned the converse
ton if her husbands talk seemed to be
leading up to the closed door, behind
which the hidden skeleton seemed ever
rafting.
Another summer found the Penlittle's
pretty country home full of boarders.
and the little mistress too feverishly busy
to observe or care for the surprise Of
some of her stylish neighbors at this
new enterprise. Her husband was evil
IDENTIFY trying to lay by money, thing
he had never done in all his care
less life before. She did not know why,
she did not want to know, but she threw
her whole strength into helping him?
The months went by; the nights and
mornings grew frosty; the naples hung
out red banners here and there among
their green leaves; and the trailing vines
began to lose their vigor. The summer
guests dropped away one after another,
and it was we'll they did, for the overtax-
ed mistress of "Arrow-wood" gave way at
last and lay i'll for weeks with nervous
prostration.
"Has Mr.. Penlittle Gomez" The in
valid was sitting up for the first time, be.
fore light, comforting blaze, which lent
a faint color to her white cheeks.
81 see his carriage this minute, ma'am,"
answered the nurse, who was holding
Frank Penlittle, Jr., on the window seat.
"Papa tummin, papa tummin," shout.
ed the three-year-ol boy, jumping up
and down till his yellow curls danced a
jig.
$50 and ask him to come up at once,
Susan, and put frankie in the carriage
for little drive
"The message was hardly necessary,
since Mr.. Penlittle never TUNED to the
right nor the left after reaching his porch
steps till he had seen his wife. To day
something else flushed her face beside
the freight as she lifted it to meet the
shower of kisses
"How is my little forlornity today"
She did not answer the playful ques-
ton, but held out letter which had
come to her in his absence. Her hus-
band read it like a man in a dream,
turned back and re-read it, and though
it was but one brief page. seemed unable
to take it in. The wife arose, took few
feeble steps about the room to quiet her
impotence, while Mr.. Penlittle was read
ing the letter; he rose too and put his
arm around her.
"Will it do, Frank?" she asked with
trembling eagerness. "Is it enough with
what you have?" And he answered with
a burst of tears
The letter was from Lawyer Vance
informing Mrs. Penlittle that her grand
fathers estate, which had been left in
terribly tangled condition, was at last set,
tied, and that her share, thirty thousand
dollars, would now be handed over to her
husband, or if she preferred, would be
put to her individual credit.
Would this Tighten the terrible weight
that had changed her happy, careless
husband into a careworn, depressed, al
most old man2 The time had come for
her to know fully the fact which her
quick instinct had long ago OWNED that
Mr.. Penlittle and not Arthur Mowbray,
had been guilty of dishonesty in the mat
ter of the banks fifty thousand dollars.
Tr,fa tn toIxa hn
you know that, Marie" he cried, for
nature like Frank Penlittle's cannot even
repent strongly; "but [ was fool enough
to tamper with it, knave enough 1 ought
to say. In some tempting speculation
lost the money, and it set me crazy to
think what I had done; what I had
brought on you, darling, and the boy.
When it was all up with me and knew
that in an another hour should be ar
rested, went out to buy-"Mr. Penlittle
hesitated and Marie's tinge of color van
ished suddenly. 81 was about to add the
act of a mailman to that of thief" he
went on bitterly, "when Mowbray found
me and you know the rest. He plead
with me for your sake and the boys to
let him bear the shame; said he was
alone in the world, and that he would as
soon live in Mexico as anywhere; that he
would be a happier man if l would give
him a chance to save you and me and our
child from disgrace. Oh he tempted me
and L yielded as L had done to the first